Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Patience Sonjica of South Africa
Previously the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica was appointed as the Minister of Mineral and Energy in May 2006 in a change of members of Cabinet.
Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica was born on 23 March 1950.
Sonjica expressed great interest in making use of Egypt's experience in the field of oil and natural gas and signing more agreements by South African oil companies to work in Egypt.
Calling for tighter regulations, Sonjica said the scarcity of skills and high turnover within the department of minerals and energy's inspectorate had led to limited capacity: "If there was more proactivity, inspectors would have checked the infrastructure and noted there was something wrong with the shaft and could have prevented the incident.
Sonjica said an investigation into the accident at Elandsrand would start on October 8, and would "not take more than a month" to conclude.
Sonjica said punitive measures were "maybe something we have to discuss as the alliance.
It reveals that, when she made her comments about going to sleep early, Sonjica was not addressing Leon at all, but was listing her 10 ways of conserving electricity.
At the launching in Midrand on Tuesday of the government's energy-saving campaign, Sonjica was asked whether she was going to bed earlier.
According to the department of minerals and energy, Sonjica has a bachelor's degree (major: isiXhosa) from Rhodes University, taught at primary and high schools, and was a student nurse before going into politics full time.
Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica says should the 53% energy hike proceed, South Africa will still have the cheapest energy in the world.
After her go to sleep advice South Africans know their Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica is not the brightest light in the chandelier.
When trying to deflect blame for her sleepy gaffe, Sonjica said her remarks had been aimed at chastising former DA leader Tony Leon, who had been heckling her.
Honourable Buyelwa Sonjica - South Africa Minister of Minerals EnergyBuyelwa Patience Sonjica was appointed to the high-profile position of South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Energy on May 22, 2006, after serving as Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry from April 2004 to May 2006.
Sonjica was elected to the Regional Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC), ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), and ANC Regional Working Committee.
Sonjica was born on March 23, 1950.
Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Patience Sonjica expressed concern over the deaths at the mine following a seismic event of 0.
Sonjica said that she was merely chastising the Democratic Alliances Tony Leon, the former leader of the official opposition, who was heckling her.
It reveals that, when she made her comments about going to sleep early, Sonjica was not addressing Leon at all, but was listing her 10 ways of conserving electricity," the Sunday Independent said.
Sonjica was elected to Parliament in 1994, and has served in the first parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Arts and Culture, the Portfolio Committees on Finance, Trade and Industry and Water Affairs and Forestry, as Chairperson of the Select Committee on Child Care Facilities, as an ANC Whip, as Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture Science and Technology, and as Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry.